Screensaver is always blank on Windows 10 64-bit

Message boards : Questions and problems : Screensaver is always blank on Windows 10 64-bit
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Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82904 - Posted: 12 Nov 2017, 5:00:16 UTC

I installed BOINC yesterday and can see in BOINC manager that the projects are running. I read the existing instructions on setting up the screensaver and all I get is a blank screen.

This is the procedure I followed:


    1. Control Panel > Scrensaver Settings > Choose "BOINC" screensaver
    2. BOINC Screensaver Configuration
    * Blank screen after: "Never"
    * Run BOINC screensaver for: "1 hr"
    * Run project screensavers for: "1 hr"
    * Switch between project screensavers every: "5"



I always lock my screen (Win+L) and after 5 minutes the screensaver is supposed to trigger. Except... blank screen.

I followed the instructions as written, so I suspect either hardware or software compatibility. I listed my specs in case anything in the list is incompatible with the screensaver.

Is there any tweak I can make to my settings or will the screensaver simply not work on my system?



  • OS: Windows 10 Pro
  • Version: 10.0.16299 Build 16299
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-6600 CPU @ 3.30GHz, 3301 MHz, 4 cores, 4 logical processors
  • Installed Physical Memory: 16 GB
  • Display Adaptor: Radeon RX480


Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82910 - Posted: 12 Nov 2017, 7:47:44 UTC

Which projects do you run, and is this on the CPU or GPU or both?
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Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82920 - Posted: 13 Nov 2017, 2:39:59 UTC - in response to Message 82910.  

Which projects do you run, and is this on the CPU or GPU or both?


I am running only SETI@home and Rosetta@home.

As for whether it is on CPU, GPU, or both, I do not know how to determine that for sure. I looked in the event log and saw two separate lines that make me suspect both are used: "Requesting new tasks for CPU" and "Requesting new tasks for AMD/ATI GPU".

I looked under computing preferences and saw nothing to dictate whether to use CPU or GPU exclusively. When I installed BOINC, I used the default settings and didn't configure anything.
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Message 82926 - Posted: 13 Nov 2017, 18:37:59 UTC - in response to Message 82920.  

I tested this with both BOINC and Windows built-in screensavers and at least on Anniversary Update lock screen simply doesn't show screensavers.

Screensavers work fine if you just leave the computer idle without switching to lock screen yourself.
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Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82938 - Posted: 14 Nov 2017, 1:00:02 UTC - in response to Message 82926.  

I tested this with both BOINC and Windows built-in screensavers and at least on Anniversary Update lock screen simply doesn't show screensavers.

Screensavers work fine if you just leave the computer idle without switching to lock screen yourself.


I was able to replicate that. However, I need to manually lock my computer every time I step away because of others with no impulse control. They will gladly use my profile if I step away for even a second and the screensaver hasn't kicked in yet.

In other words, having the BOINC screensaver activate when the screen is manually locked would be a good feature to have.
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Message 82954 - Posted: 14 Nov 2017, 17:06:24 UTC - in response to Message 82938.  

Some more googling and it's actually the lock screen that by default blanks screen after 1 minute. You can change that by following the steps in this article.
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Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82974 - Posted: 15 Nov 2017, 0:10:49 UTC - in response to Message 82954.  

The plot thickens. I now see Rosetta screensaver, but when it's time to switch to SETI screensaver, I get blank screen.

I checked the settings and it appears that SETI uses my GPU, whereas Rosetta uses the CPU.

If SETI uses the GPU, does that mean the screensaver won't work? Would I have to force CPU to be used instead? Actually, I don't know how to do that. I've Googled it, but I haven't found anything obvious yet.

Oh, for the days of Windows 95, when the SETI Screensaver worked out of the box...
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Message 82975 - Posted: 15 Nov 2017, 0:20:24 UTC - in response to Message 82974.  
Last modified: 15 Nov 2017, 0:20:47 UTC

Seti's screen saver/graphics only work on CPU tasks. Their GPU science applications don't come with a graphics application.
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Henry Wyckoff
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Message 82979 - Posted: 15 Nov 2017, 1:55:14 UTC - in response to Message 82976.  

It looks like you're right. Graphics is greyed out. Is there a way to request CPU jobs only, or is SETI GPU only nowadays?
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Message boards : Questions and problems : Screensaver is always blank on Windows 10 64-bit

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